HC Deb 24 March 2003 vol 402 cc21-2W
17. David Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers on enforcing the law on illegal occupation of land. [104123]

Mr. Wills

We meet the Association of Chief Police Officers regularly both at ministerial and official level to discuss a wide range of issues. On this issue of illegal occupation of land, the Association of Chief Police Officers were consulted. They made comments on our proposals announced in July 2002, that we intended to bring forward new eviction powers for police to deal with unauthorised encampments, where local authorities have made adequate site provision, without the preconditions found in the current legislation. We hope to bring forward the new powers once parliamentary time allows.